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Home » Eat what's in season » A practical produce guide, May 2025

A practical produce guide, May 2025

The fruits and vegetables in season this month can be pretty weather-dependent. Warmer weather will bring berries in earlier in the month, and rain can affect how fast they grow or ripen. Meanwhile, asparagus, artichokes, and peas should be abundant in May.

A chart of fruits and vegetables in season for May. Kiwi, cherries, rhubarb, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, stone fruit, asparagus, artichokes, peas, and sweet onions.
Seasonal fruit & vegetable chart for May
Jump to:
  • What fruits are in season in May?
  • Vegetables
  • Spring recipes for May
  • More seasonal guides

What fruits are in season in May?

Those of you who live in warmers climates get to enjoy plenty of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries this month. Early stone fruit also start to ripen, like apricots and early varieties of peaches and nectarines.

In cooler climates, you'll see all of these at the grocery store (and sometimes on sale), imported from warmer states like Florida or California. You might have to wait until the end of the month, or into June, for them to be in season at the local farmers markets. I live in the Chicago area and berries are in season toward the end of May, with cherries and other stone fruit lagging behind into June.

Let's dig a little deeper into a few of the most anticipated fruit this month.

Apricots in season
Apricots
Blackberries in season from late spring through mid fall
Blackberries
Blueberries are in season in late spring through summer
Blueberries
Cherries are in season from mid-spring to mid-summer. Pick the best ones and store them right with these tips (and recipes!)
Cherries
Kiwi in season cut in half to show green flesh
Kiwi
Nectarines are in season from late spring into early fall
Nectarines
Peaches are in season from late spring through mid fall
Peaches
Pink pineberries in season
Pineberries
Plums are in season from late spring into mid-fall
Plums
Raspberries are in season from late spring into fall
Raspberries
Strawberries are in season from mid-spring through summer and into early-fall.
Strawberries

Strawberries

Strawberries should be in-season at most farmers markets around the country this month. If you want strawberries with good flavor, it's worth waiting until they are in season near you and you can buy them from a local market.

Strawberries shipped in from other states need to be picked while still hard and unripe, preventing them from developing their full flavor (or any flavor at all sometimes!). The berries are picked when their color is still mostly white, but they continue to turn red after harvest. Unfortunately, this makes it incredibly difficult to know if fruit from the store will have flavor.

If you get strawberries without flavor, they can still be useful. Cook them down into a concentrated syrup for ice cream, add them to a lightly flavored salad dressing, roast them to bring out their sugars, or any other ideas in this strawberry recipe collection.

  • A flourless chocolate torte (also a flourless chocolate cake), topped with roasted strawberries. A recipe that makes 4 servings.
    Flourless chocolate torte with roasted strawberries
  • Roasted strawberries in their own sauce
    Roasted strawberries (for better flavor)
  • Strawberry rhubarb bars with fresh rhubarb and strawberries in the foreground
    Strawberry rhubarb oatmeal bars with fresh fruit
  • Homemade strawberry rhubarb cream cheese spread on a bagel, next to other bagels and fresh fruit.
    Strawberry rhubarb cream cheese
  • A strawberry spinach salad with feta on a plate, on a summer picnic table
    Strawberry spinach salad with feta & fried rosemary
  • Strawberry salad dressing with poppy seeds on a table
    Strawberry salad dressing with poppy seeds
  • A jar of strawberry rhubarb jam made without pectin, next to fresh strawberries and rhubarb stalks
    Strawberry rhubarb jam (without pectin)

Blueberries

Blueberries have a shorter season than strawberries and other summer berries. They usually show up in May (or April in much warmer areas), and last until August.

The difference between flavorful and bland blueberries isn't as big as it is with strawberries. However, when blueberries are harvested at peak ripeness, they are so full of flavor it's hard to even compare them to fruit from the grocery store.

Ripe blueberries are highly perishable, so you are unlikely to find the best ones at a supermarket. Unripe berries have hints of red or green, however after a few days they will turn blue (but not get sweeter). This makes the quality hard to determine without a taste test. Luckily, they grow well in most parts of the US, so you can usually find them at a nearby farmers' market in summer or even a u-pick farm.

Blueberries on a paper towel, stains show deterioration

When you bring blueberries home, store them in a single layer, on a tray lined with paper towel. This makes them last a little longer and also makes it easier to spot molding blueberries. A bad blueberry will start to leak juice onto the paper towel - just throws those berries away.

Browse the recipes below or a collection of 75 blueberry recipes.

  • Blueberry syrup in a jar, on top of a pile of fresh blueberries.
    Blueberry syrup recipe (with canning instructions)
  • A blueberry cheesecake bar cut in half to show the cream cheese filling and graham cracker crust. Set on top of fresh blueberries.
    Blueberry cheesecake bars with graham cracker crust
  • A picture of blueberry muffins in the tin
    Blueberry swirl muffins
  • A summer Cobb salad recipe with chicken, bacon, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, zucchini, corn, and blueberries
    Summer Cobb salad with corn & blueberries

Raspberries

Raspberries are another spring and summer fruit worth seeking out locally. They are the most delicate fruit that does not withstand shipping if even remotely ripe.

Farmers market raspberries will be much better than store bought, but not as good as home grown. It's just not possible to let them get that ripe and transport them to the market.

I grow raspberries in my back yard and they barely make it into my house without falling apart or squishing, even when I hold a dozen gently in my hand. The flavor from berries this ripe, however, is memorable and worth seeking out.

Farmers markets, and even the grocery store, are offering more raspberry varieties than in the past. It's not uncommon to find yellow or black raspberries during peak season. I've found yellow raspberries to have a milder flavor, while black raspberries are more intense. It could be the climate near me, so be sure to try them all!

If you love raspberries, you won't want to miss this collection of raspberry recipes. I found recipes from great bloggers who pair them with white chocolate, lavender, and even coffee (like iced raspberry lattes). There are also recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, salads, and desserts, like raspberry-apricot BBQ ribs or a triple berry tiramisu.

Blackberries

You may have noticed that some blackberries taste bitter, while other summer berries like raspberries or blueberries don’t. Blackberries start out bitter, turning sweeter and less bitter as they ripen.

When picked perfectly ripe, they are rarely bitter (weather can still affect their bitterness). However, blackberries from the grocery store are often bitter because they need to be picked early to survive shipping.

If you get bitter blackberries, there's actually quite a lot you can do to fix the problem. Sugar masks our ability to taste bitterness, while fat balances it out. So you could macerate blackberries in sugar, than add them to the top of a baked brie cheese or on a goat-cheese topped bruschetta. Get all of the tips from, "Why blackberries are bitter & how to fix it."

Vegetables

Spring vegetables are in season throughout all of May, including asparagus, artichokes, peas, and rhubarb. Rhubarb, in particular, pairs well with several thanks to its sweet-sour flavor that adds a lot of interest.

Artichokes are in season
Artichokes
asparagus in season
Asparagus
Types of wild mushrooms, maitake, shiitake, portobello, oyster
Mushrooms
Sugar snap and shelling peas are in season in spring, summer and fall. Get more info on picking the best ones, storing them and of course, recipes.
Peas
Rhubarb is in season from April through July.
Rhubarb
sweet onions (vidalia, walla walla), in season
Sweet onions

Rhubarb

While everyone if familiar with rhubarb, it's not very commonly used. It has a very unique flavor that is not appetizing when raw (in most cases), but can be very interesting when paired with the right ingredients.

Rhubarb's tart, sour flavor is often paired with sweeter ingredients. The tartness balances out the sugar and adds depth to otherwise sweet desserts. That's why rhubarb is often found in strawberry pies.

Rhubarb pairs well with all sorts of savory dishes and meat from beef to salmon. For example, the sour flavor works especially well in a sweet & sour pork or chicken dish.

Rhubarb is only really found in grocery stores (and farmers markets) when it's in season. Out-of-season options are rarely sold. When shopping for rhubarb, look for sturdy stalks (like you would for celery). The color of the stalks is not necessarily a predictor of flavor, as there are many different varieties with various coloring. Only eat the stalks, the leaves are poisonous.

Rhubarb recipes

If you want to cook with rhubarb this spring, browse through over 50 rhubarb recipes I've collected. Or check out these raspberry-rhubarb pairings or strawberry rhubarb pairings.

Asparagus

Asparagus is the quintessential spring vegetable and should be abundant across the country throughout May. Asparagus flavor and texture is best shortly after it is harvested, so you will find better quality at the farmers market.

If the base of the asparagus isn't woody, it was likely harvested that day. Over time the base turns woody and dries out. That's inevitable at the grocery store, but you can simply cut the bottoms off.

The texture can get more fibrous and stringy over time as well. Tough asparagus spears are a result of long storage, not the thickness of the spear. Cooking won't fix the problem. Your best bet is to slice them into little rounds so the stringyness goes mostly unnoticed.

Thin asparagus spears are great for steaming and sauteing, whereas thicker spears hold up better to the high heat of grilling and roasting. See all of the different ways to cook asparagus and the best recipes for using them.

Interested in growing your own asparagus? Check out my garden guide that explains exactly how asparagus grows and the best varieties for your region.

  • Baguette roll with sliced asapragus, goat cheese, olives, and lettuce
    Picnic sandwich with asparagus and goat cheese
  • A pan of asparagus risotto with ham mixed in
    Asparagus risotto with ham
  • Plate of pasta with asparagus and nasturtium leaves and flowers on the table
    Nasturtium pesto pasta with asparagus
  • Eggs Benedict with asparagus, deli ham, and a fried over easy egg that was easy and quick to make. Set on a wood cutting board backdrop.
    Shortcut eggs Benedict with asparagus

Artichokes

Artichokes are a Mediterranean vegetable, which means the US production is limited to the mild pars of California. But they ship well enough, so the rest of us can enjoy them anytime they are in season. They are most abundant in spring and fall, tapering off for a while during the hottest part of summer.

Look for artichokes with tightly closed tips. Open leaves are a sign it's overripe. For more information on artichokes, visit my seasonal artichoke guide and tips on how to cook artichokes.

Picture of good and bad artichokes

Spring recipes for May

Recipes this month are full of spring fruits & vegetables, and grills start up for the season. The following recipes collections will provide endless ideas.

  • sweet and sour cherries on a table to promote cherry recipes
    50 cherry recipes to catch your interest (cheese plates & pies to salads & steak)
  • strawberry recipes - bread
    Strawberry recipes: from shortcakes to BBQ sauce
  • Raspberries in a container
    Raspberry flavor pairings & recipes
  • Bowl of fresh blueberries
    75 blueberry recipes & flavor pairings
  • apricot pairings: blackberries, nuts, and basil
    Apricot recipes: floral, nutty, berry, and corny
  • Ripe blackberries in a bowl on a purple napkin
    Blackberry recipes: from cocktails to BBQs
  • 2 blackberries, close up
    Why blackberries are bitter & how to fix it
  • Rhubarb recipes
    50 rhubarb recipes: sweet & savory
  • How to cook asparagus
    How to cook asparagus: 10 methods & 50 recipes
  • Edible parts of an artichoke, in a diagram
    How to prep artichokes & 8 cooking methods

More seasonal guides

The monthly guides will show you what's coming up in June and beyond. You can also browse through a full list of produce guides for more information on your favorite seasonal fruits & vegetables.

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About the Food Geek

Welcome, I'm Veronica, your resident food geek - experienced recipe developer and gardener. My goal is to help you enjoy eating at home by knowing what fruits & vegetables are currently in season and the best ways to use them. To do that, I've put together seasonal produce guides and recipes with practical advice.

More about me

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